A YEAR-long study is proposing multi-million pound line and station improvements which would double the number of trains on the Chester-Wrexham-Shrewsbury line.

Experts want to see new stations at Johnstown and Green Lane, Lache, a park-and-ride station just outside Rossett, and increased speed limits.

New double track or a “dynamic” loop, which allows trains to pass, could see hourly services increased to half hourly.

Startling new figures show the once struggling line is expected to carry five million passengers a year by the end of this month..

In December 2005 a full hourly service was introduced and this year alone passenger numbers have soared by 16.4%.

In the spring of 2006 consultants Scott Wilson Railways were commissioned by the Chester-Shrewsbury Rail Partnership to undertake a study of the line between Chester, Wrexham and Shrewsbury.

The study, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, TAITH (the six North Wales authorities), Cheshire County Council, Oswestry Borough Council, Shropshire County Council and Arriva Trains Wales, will now be examined by the partners.

Figures show while bus services may see a dip in passenger numbers in the areas covered by the rail route, rail passenger numbers are extremely healthy and likely to grow.

But freight is fairly static and there appears to be little the partners can do to encourage more freight other than those already using the service – such as Kronospan and Shotton steel.

Community Rail Officer for the line Sheila Dee said: “This study has been conducted at a particularly interesting time for railways in Wales and the Borders as Network Rail are currently working on the Rail Route Utilisation Strategy for Wales, a ten-year plan for developing adequate capacity within the network.”

Consultants suggest increasing line speed from the current 60-70mph to 90mph.

The move would knock 14 minutes off the Chester-Shrewsbury journey time.

Opening a new station at Green Lane, Lache, which could cost about #3.2m, could be a real possibility because of high numbers of employees and expected growth at the Chester Business Park.

A park and ride station at Rossett was also worth further investigation.

But the most costly decisions revolve around whether the line should be doubled or looped.